Installing a printer without a ppd file

Question

I am trying to set up a computer linux to be able to print from my printer: Brother DCP 7030. But (twist!) for security reasons this computer should never go online. So any software I need to install will need to be downloaded with another machine, put in a usb stick, and copied onto the linux machine. Sweet.

The operating system is Ubuntu 12.04 LTS (not sure what does it mean).

OS type: 32-bit.

Now the system seem to only accept PPD files as printer drivers. While Brother does not offer any ppd file for this printer (I tried the 7025 and 7045, but they don't work).

http://welcome.solutions.brother.com/bsc/public_s/id/linux/en/download_prn.html#DCP-7030

What should I do?

Thanks. Unfortunately that does not work. When I try to print a test page it prints one page after the other of white pages. — Pietro Speroni, Feb 06 '14 at 10:39

Kiwy · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-06T12:26:46.380

1

You may consider to read Brother instructions to install the drivers on Ubuntu

First
you will need to have ia32-libs or lib32stdc++ installed.

Second
Download the deb package for your printer

Third
install the printer driver deb package with the command :

dpkg -i nameofpackage.deb  
#the web site mention the use of --force-all but I do not recommand it 
#(use only if standard way does not work

Fourth
I really don't understand the instructino bt it mention the modification of the file /etc/printcap accroding to your config, but as I will not install that driver I can't help you uch further.

edited Feb 06 '14 at 12:26

answered Feb 06 '14 at 10:52

Kiwy

9,415
13
49
79

Hmm, thanks. I might have installed it, but I am lost at step 5 (what you call step 4). When I do more printecap it says this file was automatically generated by cupsd(8). So CUPS is installed?? – Pietro Speroni Feb 06 '14 at 11:33
Well it's very likely the case – Kiwy Feb 06 '14 at 11:34
1

Yes, ok. I had to reinstall it using CUPS (whatever that is). Then take away the proxy from firefox. Then checked the localhost. And now it works. Simple. ;-). Thank you very much, I saw those instructions before but could not understand them the first time. – Pietro Speroni Feb 06 '14 at 11:51
Ok glad this help you. – Kiwy Feb 06 '14 at 11:51
`dpkg` package? `deb` package. – enedil Feb 06 '14 at 12:17
@enedil `Ubuntu 12.04 LTS` ? – Kiwy Feb 06 '14 at 12:18
I mean the name. `dpkg` package is there: http://packages.debian.org/search?keywords=dpkg – enedil Feb 06 '14 at 12:25
OK I really didn't get what you were sayng, I think it's better now. – Kiwy Feb 06 '14 at 12:28

Installing a printer without a ppd file

1 Answers1